KAIKOURA COUNTY COUNCIL

Kaikoura Star, Volume XIV, Issue 740, 22 May 1894, Page 3

KAIKOURA COUNTY COUNCIL

Saturday, May 19, 1894

Present: Councillors A. W. Ingles (Chairman pro tern) R. Brown, J. Davidson, G. Eaton, P. Keenan, G. Taylor, C. Wood. Leave of absence was granted the County Chairman, Cr A. 8. Collins. Outward correspondence included two communications to Mr Slater, one re survey of road line on to the Peninsula from the Port, and asking probable cost of work, and, second, further instructing him what the Council requires. To Charitable Aid Board asking for allowance for Mrs Gordon and Mr John Harnett.—Board replied agreeing to 5s a week being paid each, and statingjthat the Jubilee Home is full. To Mr J. A. Parsons and to Chief Commr. of Lands respecting withdrawal of land on Peninsula, and lease of sections in small (2 to 3 acres) allotments for 7 years. To Postmaster asking whether P. O. Dept, will agree to establisment of receiving box or postal pillar at, or near, Kaikoura House, and, if so, whether Dept will provide the box or pillar. INWARD The Charitable Aid Board notified that the allocation made by the Board required a contribution from Kaikoura of £BO Os Id for 1894-95 ; from the Hospital Board asking for a contribution, for 1894-95, of £6O 16s 6d. Mr C. M. Brooke, Ashburton, wrote respecting supply of poisoned grain for destruction of small birds. Circular letters read and received.

FORT-PENINSULA ROAD Mr Slater, surveyor, wrote agreeing to make survey of road from the Port to the top of the Peninsula, but could not give estimate of cost as he did not know amount of work required to reestablish original Town Survey. He ' stated that his charge would be reasonable.—ln a second letter he said that he understood that connection between Fyffe Quay to Fountain Bt, on Dover Terrace was required, perhaps necessitating connection with Scarborough St. Certain work had to be done to pass Department requirements. Councillors agreed that, from their knowledge of him, Mr Slater's charge would be a reasonable one. The Inspector, at Mr Gooch’s request, laid before the Council a scheme for a road, by way of Flint’s Gully, which the proposer (Mr Flint) believes to be a better and more practical route. This scheme proposed going up the gully a short distance then making the ascent of the Peninsula slope by an extended, narrow, v road. This, it was urged : would cost less; be more convenient to settlers and trades people; shorter to wharf, saving 1 mile in miles to Town ; easy grade for wool dray, level compared with P. O. cutting; require no purchase, or destroy private property. While other route was : Not workable grade, necessitated purchase of and destruction of private property; while it cut natural water courses. Councillors and the Inspector did not view the proposal favourably, but, after general discussion, it was agreed that Mr Slater be engaged to examine the two lines, and determine which, in his opinion, was the better. The Inspector Reported for past month to following effect: — Renwick and Adair still at work on North Road. Have worked down as far as Iron Gate; road in fair order so far. Mr Johnston says Creek near Mr D. Taylor’s cottage is gutted out, and offers to put it in fit state for traffic and cut water off road for £l. As it would cost this, or more, to send men back, he advised acceptance of offer. Had fresh crossing made at Anniseed Creek straight with line of road, with much smoother bottom in bed of Creek.

Recent heavy seas have undermined road below Church at Maungamaunu. It will be necessary to widen road at this point for about 2 chains, and, probably, sea wall before long. Engaged J. Boyd to patch Beach road, between Middle and Woolshed Creeks, but

heavv timber and firewood drays break through crust of road continually, and this portion should be metalled at once, or constant patching will be necessary. This road will soon require metalling from Bendemere corner to Hapiika river, having no bottom, other than sand, metal will not stand when it gets thin. Recent heavy easterly seas have encroached still more on Wharf road, more especially near The Cave. It will be necessary to build a sea wall for about a chain West of The Cave; ether part can be protected by tipping in rubble tiones. Seas also washed some metal off road to The Point at one-place. New work under wharf stood heavy * wash ’ well, but heavy range displaced some of decking and washed one piece away. Decking is getting so rotten that nails draw right through planks.—Measurement for quantity of timber required for wharf will be made immediately. Since calling for tendtrs for concreting boatways several persons, Capt. Wills included, have pointed out that pieces of timber should either be let into or bolted across the slip for the boats to be run on. Contracts for cleaning ditches are finished. There is one length on Hawthorne’s Road fronting Tulloch Mains, which was not included in contracts as wiliows over-hung in the ditch. As these are now being cleared away, he asked to be allowed to have ditch cleared.

Acceptance of tenders and completion of ivorks reported. Report adopted. TENDERS Were received and dealt with as follows : Repairs to Lyell Bridge : (Inspector's estimate, £5) Boyens and Jackson (* aeptd) £5 0 0 J. Mclnnes 5 0 0 M. Harnett 6 5 0 Garrett Bros. 12 10 0 * Accepted by lot. Garrett's Bridge: (Inspector’s estimate, £4 10s) M. Harnett (* accepted) £4 10 0 J. H. Sandford 4 10 0 J. Mclnnes 5 10 0 Garrett Bros. 10 0 0 * Accepted by lot. Boatways at Port: (Inspector’s estimate, £7 17s 6d) Sandos and Low (accepted) £8 14 0 J. Mclnnes 9 10 0 Boyens and Jackson 17 0 0 Road Communication. The Chairman read a letter from Mr Meredith, M.H.R., addressed to Mr J. A. Parsons. Mr Meredith, acknowledged receipt of Mr Parson’s letter of May 28, also copy of Star containing report of meeting held here. He feared inability to do anything - to have the will of Kaikoura people carried until he reached Wellington, when he would command the ear of Ministers. He was aware of unfinished condition of road from Mr Wood’s to Kaikoura, also the advantage a direct road to Cheviot would have on trade and settlement on Crown lands shortly to he opened up. He would carefully retain copy of Star reporting meeting. The great question, in his opinion the most important question, will be the opening up of Crown lands, at the earliest possible date, for settlement, and preparatory to settlement roads must be had, this it would be his duty to impress on the Minister for Lande. He asked that the County Council be induced to pass a resolution to strengthen his hands.

The Chairman said Mr Parsons had not had time to see Mr Wood, and had asked him to put the letter before the Council. The Clerk informed the Council that Mr Meredith, M.H.R., had written one or two residents on road and other matters.

Cr Davidson suggested urging that the work on the North and South road, and bridges thereon, should be undertaken at once.

The Chairman said he did not agree with Mr Parsons about the road from Kaikoura to Cheviot, which would, through this County, be expensive to make and to maintain, without, in his opinion, conferring a corresponding benefit upon the place. Mr Parsons told him that he not was farseeing, and pictured smiling homesteads and a number of settlers on the land. Improvement of present through road communication was what they wanted. Crs Wood, Davidson, and others, agreed with the Chairman. They

wanted to see the main road made safe for more expeditious coach communication. It was not desirable that the Council should be saddled with the maintenance of another expensive line of road.

It was carried, on the motion of Crs Ingles and Wood, That Mr Meredith, M.H R., be requested to urge upon the Govt the necessity of completing the main South road, between Bell’s Peg and the Greenburn, and on the North road the Anniseed Creek and the Iron Gate Creek bridged, and culverts put in where required, and that he endeavour to have a sum placed on the Estimates (and the money expended) for the purposes named, the works being very necessary in view of the probability of a tri-weekly mail service being established between Christchurch and Blenheim.

The Chairman said that the making of bridges and culverts on the North road was part of the original scheme when unemployed were put on the road, but removed before the work was finished.

, Miscellaneous : On Clerk pointing matter out, it was resolved that notice should be given of intention to strike rate of Jd in £. Proposal of Clerk to re-metal North road, including from Hawthorne’s road corner, met with general approval.—Clerk said one part had not been metalled for eleven years. Cr Brown contended that 50 yards too much metal had been put on the Cemetery road near Mr Feek’s. It should not have gone beyond the latter’s gate. The Inspector said he did not so understand. Cr Brown held that that was ag'reed upon. When the road was formed beyond that point the work done in excess would be thrown away. The Chairman, after enquiry, said the metal in excess represented 24 yards more than was anticipated. Cr Brown considered it about a fourth more than was required. Tenders for metalling road from Ashwick corner, northwards, to be invited in two sections. Timber to be put on ways at wharf to receive boats. Road at Cave to be attended to at once ; tenders to be invited. Culvert to be put diagonally’ across Kohai road at foot of Davidson’s road. Cr Keenan asked that a bridge be put across the ditch fronting his section numbered 81, and that the waterway be cleared, as his land was partially flooded. Councillors agreed the former could not be done, but the latter was due to him. Rather lengthy discussion took place on the point, Cr Keenan urging his claim owing to the late Road Board having cut the ditch to his injury but to the benefit, of another. Councillors were unanimous that the Council could uot legally make an approach to anyone’s propertyAccounts and Pay Sheet having been passed, Council adjourned until June 16.